Arunachal activist Bhanu Tatak charged with illegal foreign funding for dam protests

The Central Bureau of Investigation has lodged a criminal case against Bhanu Tatak, a lawyer and environmental activist based in Arunachal Pradesh, accusing her of violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by receiving over Rs 17.6 lakh from foreign organisations and individuals. The alleged donors include Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy from the Philippines, Indigenous Peoples Rights International of Ireland, Front Line of the United Kingdom and the Human Rights Resource Centre, also based in the UK.

CBI alleges Tatak failed to file income-tax returns and that the unregistered funds were channelled into her personal savings account, then used to support protests against the 12,500-megawatt Siang Multipurpose Project and a 2,880-megawatt scheme on the Dibang river. These projects are opposed by the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum and Dibang Resistance, which argue they endanger the Adi tribe’s existence. Tatak, who also serves as legal adviser to the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum, was previously barred from traveling to Ireland after a police lookout circular was issued. She has not responded to requests for comment.